Newmarket uncertain about Oyster River tuition offer

Tuesday

Oct 15, 2013 at 2:00 AM

NEWMARKET — One thing was clear after a public hearing Thursday night about the proposed high school tuition agreement between the Newmarket and Oyster River school districts: Residents are unsure what they want.

Jennifer Keefe

NEWMARKET — One thing was clear after a public hearing Thursday night about the proposed high school tuition agreement between the Newmarket and Oyster River school districts: Residents are unsure what they want.

Many residents turned out to the Town Hall to hear a comprehensive explanation by Superintendent Jim Hayes as to how the tuition agreement would work, but the conversation quickly turned to the pros and cons and whether the town should explore another option.

"I'm thinking from an emotional standpoint about what's best for my kid," said resident Amy Gendreau, who made an argument for renovating the current high school or building a new one.

The agreement, as proposed currently, would cost the district $14,500 per high school student to send them to Oyster River.

Hayes said the district currently spends about $16,000 per student.

The initial term of the agreement would begin in the 2015-16 school year and be reassessed in 10 years as to whether to continue the agreement; however, even if the agreement is not renegotiated at that time, it would continue for another five years before termination.

Following that termination, students in the middle of their high school careers would continue through until graduation.

The five years, Hayes explained, is to give the district time to plan and approve a contingency plan such as building a new school.

Residents were concerned about spending money on an alternative when new construction might have to happen down the road anyway, and continuing to pay tuition for students finishing out their high school careers in conjunction with trying to approve expensive renovations or new construction in town.

"The risk is that we're prolonging building a school in 10 years," said resident Alicia Buono.

Others agreed, saying it could present a large challenge if the agreement isn't renewed.

In addition to Newmarket, Oyster River has also offered a tuition plan to Barrington and much decide whether they want to reach a agreement with that town or Newmarket.

Both school boards would ultimately have to agree to a contract, and the tuition agreement would then have to be approved by Newmarket voters as well as the voters in Oyster River's three sending towns of Durham, Lee and Madbury.

Hayes explained if the agreement is accepted and moves forward, many elements would remain the same, such as involvement of the Newmarket School Board, curriculum coordination, and transportation — although he cautioned bus routes could be slightly longer or start earlier, "but nothing outrageous."

Newmarket students attending the Seacoast School of Technology would have to start attending the Career and Technical centers in either Dover or Somersworth.

Hayes' presentation included projected tuition expenses under the agreement, which would be calculated each year by the percentage of the actual change in the appropriated operating cost at Oyster River from the prior fiscal year.

In the 2015-16 school year under this agreement, Newmarket's estimated tuition cost for both the middle school and high school, including out-of-district expenses and transportation costs, would be $8,389,200.

The estimates Hayes presented through the 2022-23 school year were based on a 2 percent increase to tuition each year, but he said it will be more than that because it's based on the appropriated operating costs each fiscal year.

Hayes said Newmarket's average annual budget growth for five years has been 2.9 percent, which has been used to project future costs.

Discussion turned to other options for the school district when Hayes explained there will also be a warrant article for fire and life safety improvements at the middle school.

A price tag of $50 million has been floated to build a new high school in town, but some residents weren't ready to accept that as the final cost, and argued the district should consider other possibilities.

"Do something affordable," said resident Paul Dietterle. "Keep the kids in town, but we don't want to spend $50 million. I wish you would sit down and say, 'What can the town afford?' and make a plan around that."

There was some discussion about animosity between Durham and Newmarket, and resident Steve Reynolds said he would withdraw his children from the district if a tuition agreement is made between the two towns.

Gendreau said she took issue with comments made by Oyster River School Board member Megan Turnball that were quoted in an earlier Seacoastonline.com story about whether standardized test scores could be reported separately instead of as a whole integrated student body.

"It's like we're second-class citizens," Gendreau said.

Residents stressed there should be a plan in place if the tuition agreement is voted down in March, whether it be new construction or renovations.

"My goal is to get this thing off of your agenda for a long time," said Hayes.

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